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13

Rorik

As I trudged through the underbrush in my polar bear form, I thanked the thick forest for protecting me from the oppressive tropical heat. The shade from the dense canopy kept me cool as I searched for the earrings.

Why did I bother? I shouldn’t have cared about winning the challenge… but I did. An annoying, nagging urge fueled me. It wasn’t that I necessarily cared about winning as a concept—I just didn’t want anybody else to get closer to Saffron. The idea made my blood boil with jealousy.

He was my target. He was my prey. He was my…

My what?

I shook my head. I would not assassinate Saffron. He may have obscured the truth, but I couldn’t kill him, because he wasn’t really a dragon. It was a ruse, a fantasy to make this TV show appeal to a broad audience.

He was… an owl, or an osprey, or something else with long curved talons.

Saffron was lying about his identity, and Poppy was tricked into thinking dragons were good. That was all. If I witnessed Saffron reveal his real animal form, I could fix my relationship with both of them. Then I’d return home and tell Sheba there was some kind of mistake. The “dragons” on this show were not real.

And then what? I thought, suddenly miffed. She’ll say, “Oh, my mistake. Thanks for your effort, Rorik!”

I snorted at the idea. Sheba never thanked me for anything. If I returned empty-handed, would she even believe I tried my best to fulfill her demands?

I groaned out loud. My mind was a mess. Nothing made sense anymore…

My ears pricked at a sudden strange noise. It was a flapping sound, like the snap of a bat’s wing but a hundred times louder. I raised my head to follow the source, then stopped dead.

I glimpsed the edge of a massive leathery wing right before it disappeared into the canopy.

My stomach turned inside out. My heart pounded so hard I felt sick.

There was no mistaking it. The image was burned into my memory like a hot brand.

Dragon.

There was a dragon right in front of me.

My mind whited out. Each hair on my pelt stood ramrod-straight. Every second of grueling battle training sparked to life, lighting a fire in my blood. Consumed by tunnel vision, I raced forward. My muscles felt taut, poised to strike.

Sheba was right, I realized, dread and vengeance stewing in my stomach. Dragons are here on this island. My coming here wasn’t a mistake.

But that meant I had to kill one after all.

My throat tightened, but I ignored it. This was what I trained for; this was my purpose.

If I couldn’t do this, then what good was I? Did I have any value at all?

Focus. You are a warrior.

I smothered my doubts and ran ahead.

The dragon’s yellow scales stood out, bright and unnatural against the dark green foliage. My heart pounded as I approached it. The long-necked reptile didn’t seem to notice me; it tamped the ground with huge curved talons as if searching for something. Its massive wings folded against its spiny back, so it was in no rush to fly away. This was my chance.

Show no fear. Show no mercy.

As I pounded into the clearing where the dragon stood, it still didn’t look up at me. Anger sizzled in my veins. Was I so insignificant to a dragon that I wasn’t worth sparing a glance? I was no weakling. I was a powerful polar bear, the strongest land carnivore in the world. I wouldn’t sit back and accept this insult to my pride.

My vision narrowed to a single point—the dragon’s vulnerable, exposed neck; right where its jaw met its spine.

The moment I was in range, I leapt and sank my fangs between its scales.

The dragon shrieked. The vile creature’s grace vanished as it flailed. My size weighed it down, and my ambush took it off guard; it thrashed like a fish out of water, gasping for air just as desperately. I bit deeper so I wouldn’t be thrown off.

I have it.

My heart thumped like thunder.

I can do this.

Coppery blood spilled onto my tongue.

Just a bit more.

My body lurched as the dragon fell forward, collapsing like a lame horse. I braced myself as I swung through the air. The dragon roared, the sound mangled by my fangs choking it. Then, through the vitriolic hiss, a hoarse sound came out that resembled human speech.

“Get off me!”

My heart stilled. Did I recognize that voice? How?

I didn’t know any dragons.

Surely, I didn’t.

I didn’t...

The dam holding back my doubts burst open. My jaws released their pressure just enough for the dragon to throw me off. I tumbled to the forest floor with a grunt, then rolled to my feet. I panted heavily and spat out a mouthful of dragon blood.

The dragon was sprawled against the ground, drawing ragged breaths. Its golden eyes dragged towards me, and its slitted pupils pierced my gaze.

I shuddered. Those eyes were painfully familiar.

Where did I know them from?

“Rorik,” the dragon rasped.

Icy dread prickled under my fur. The air was tropical, but I was utterly chilled to the bone.

I had a gut-wrenching feeling that I’d done something terribly wrong.

“How… do you know my name?” I asked.

The corner of the dragon’s mouth curled into a dry smirk. “We met… a couple days ago…” He broke off into a cough.

The familiar eyes. The golden scales. The fact that he knew my name.

I felt hideously sick as the worst-case scenario flashed in my mind. The dragon in front of me was Saffron. He was a dragon after all, and I’d attacked him. Hurt him.

I could have killed him.

A full-body shiver drenched me like a torrent of rain. A realization hit me fast and hard: if that was true, I would not be able to live with myself. Mission be damned. Sheba be damned. Every fucking thing except Saffron be damned.

But no. It couldn’t be Saffron. Even from a distance, the dragon’s scent was different. It wasn’t the one I’d grown so fond of, the one that drilled into my core...

“What—what should I do?” I asked, voice rising with panic.

The dragon wheezed. “Get… Saffron...”

My heart stopped again.

That meant—

A commotion burst into the clearing. The dragon’s pained cries had carried across the island. Everyone must’ve heard and came to his rescue.

And leading the group was Saffron.

My Saffron.

“AURUM!” he screamed.

He bolted towards the downed dragon, falling to his knees by the creature’s bloody neck. His face twisted with concern and panic.

“What happened? Who did this to you?” Saffron cried, fighting off tears.

Aurum’s eyes pulled away from me as he clenched them shut. “Not important.”

I went breathless.

Was he trying to protect me?

But Saffron wasn’t stupid. He whirled, staring over his shoulder at me with wide, terrified eyes.

Blood stained my white fur, clear as day. There was no hiding the evidence.

The raw pain on Saffron’s face was difficult to handle. His gaze was a pair of knives stabbed between my ribs.

“Saffron—” I choked out.

“Why, Rorik?” Saffron whispered.

It was his quiet voice that broke me. I wanted him to scream, lash out, berate me. I would’ve rather he just hit me. His gentle agony was too much.

Slow terror swamped me. I’d betrayed Aurum. I’d betrayed Poppy.

I’d betrayed Saffron.

I’d betrayed the only people who were ever truly kind to me.

As my mind spiraled and spun out, I couldn’t speak. I stood there like a gaping idiot, soaked in the blood of a dragon who had done nothing wrong.

A second wail rang out in the clearing. “Aurum!”

A short, chubby omega ran towards Aurum. I realized with a sickening twist of my gut that it must be his mate—the omega father of the innocent twin ferret girls.

Mylo wept as he stroked Aurum’s scales. “It’s okay. It’s all going to be okay,” he said shakily, as if trying to convince himself.

A burst of light caught my eye. I stopped, frozen in place as Saffron changed shape.

His human form was gone; a golden-yellow dragon took its place. Saffron curled his neck around Aurum’s like a shield, supporting him and staunching the flow of blood. He resembled a mother bear protecting her cub from a brutal winter storm. The two identical dragons lay intertwined in a fierce display of love.

Saffron never lied. He told me the truth, over and over again. He was a dragon. And so was his twin brother I’d nearly killed.

My throat tightened.

This was all my fault. I was in a nightmare of my own creation.

I backed up slowly, giving them space. I wanted to disappear. Not just from the scene of my crime. From the entire world.

But that would’ve been the coward’s way out. I had to atone for this.

I approached the dragons with cautious paw-steps and a bowed head, trying to indicate I wasn’t a threat anymore.

The second I was close enough to speak, Mylo whirled around to snarl at me. A vicious set of sharp ferret fangs glinted in his human mouth.

“Don’t take another step towards my mate,” he warned.

His tenacity gave me pause. I’d never seen an omega so protective of their alpha. I didn’t realize that was—for lack of a better word—allowed.

Saffron looked at me. Even as a dragon, I recognized his eyes. Pain and confusion shone in them, but unlike Mylo, he didn’t look seconds away from tearing me to shreds. He just looked sad. Hurt.

I opened my mouth to speak, but faltered. What could I say? No single apology would fix this. Words wouldn’t wash the blood off my fur.

I’m so fucking stupid.

My mouth was dry. “I… only want to know if Aurum is okay.”

“If you care so much, why did you attack him?” Mylo snapped.

The short omega had no fear of standing up to me. That was the strength of his bond with Aurum. It dawned on me that he would’ve done anything for his mate.

Slowly, I backed away from Mylo and the twin dragons, but my path was blocked. I turned to see two men with stern expressions behind me—Cobalt and Jade.

“Come with us, Rorik,” Cobalt said in a low voice.

I was too ashamed to look back at Saffron. I followed his older brothers away from the scene, ready and willing to accept my punishment.

The elder dragons led me back to their castle. Nobody spoke. They escorted me down a long corridor on the main floor to a sunny, open room with glass walls. Tables and chairs were strewn around. It felt too bright. Inappropriate. I’d expected them to drag me down into a dungeon to torture me instead.

“Shift,” Cobalt ordered.

I didn’t argue. I did as he asked. The drying blood felt uncomfortable against my human skin.

“Sit down.”

I took a seat in the nearest chair. The dragons remained standing as they watched me.

This is where it ends, I thought.

Cobalt didn’t tear his gaze from me as he spoke to Jade. “Do the others know?”

“Yes. They’ll be here soon,” Jade replied.

“Viol?”

Jade exhaled through his nostrils, sounding resigned. “I don’t know where he is.”

“Aurum?”

“I’m having him taken care of,” Jade replied evenly.

My heartbeat quickened. “He’s alive?” I asked.

Cobalt worked his jaw. For a long beat, he was silent, but not calm. His aura was different than the man who’d offered me his clothes earlier. This version of Cobalt was dangerous—and rightfully so.

Finally, he spoke in a low growl. “You didn’t want him to be.”

The words felt like being struck. I hung my head and remained silent.

“Answer me,” Cobalt demanded.

I flinched at his powerful voice. But at the same time, I commended his restraint. He could’ve torn me limb from limb by now. It baffled me why he didn’t. If I’d committed this heinous of a crime back in the tundra clan, Sheba and Knox wouldn’t have hesitated to kill me on the spot. I expected it.

What I didn’t expect was the dragons’ reserved judgment.

“Nothing I could say would undo my mistake,” I murmured.

“You’re damn right it won’t,” Cobalt snarled. “You nearly killed my baby brother.”

I saw Jade’s eyes widen. Even he seemed surprised by Cobalt’s fury.

Cobalt glared at me. His sea-blue eyes were hard. “You’re lucky I don’t end you.”

“Do whatever you must,” I insisted. “I accept my punishment.”

Even if it means never seeing Saffron’s smile again.

My stomach tied painfully into knots. After what I’d done, I doubted Saffron would even spare me a glance. In that case, I’d prefer Cobalt strike me down...

Cobalt grunted. “Put this on.”

He whisked off his denim over-shirt and threw it at me. I blinked, grasping it in confusion. I was covered in blood. Besides, didn’t he want me dead? But Cobalt’s glare left no room for arguments, so I silently tied it around my waist.

The door flew open with a bang. Others streamed into the room, joining Cobalt and Jade as they encircled me. One alpha had red-and-black hair; the other was pale-skinned with light purple hair.

Saffron and Aurum were absent. From Jade’s comment, I assumed another one of their brothers, Viol, was also missing.

Jade cleared his throat and gestured to the newcomers. “Crimson. Thystle.” He finished with me. “Rorik.”

Why bother introducing us? What was the point?

“Anyone care to explain why we’re not eating bear steak right now?” Crimson snarked as he glared at me.

Thystle curled his lip, shooting me a nasty look. “I should’ve known this would happen. Once you get too famous, stalker freaks come out of the woodwork.”

Their comments drenched me in a fresh layer of shame. This wasn’t the first impression I wanted to make.

When did I start wanting to make a good impression with Saffron’s brothers? I thought. Why do I care so much about dragons’ opinions of me?

“Why’d you do it?” Thystle barked, jerking me from my thoughts. “Fame? Fortune? What possible reason could you have to hurt my little brother, asshole?”

Little brother. Baby brother. Twin brother. An alpha mate. And to his daughters, a father, too. Aurum was something unique to each family member—and I’d nearly destroyed those bonds.

A cold shiver ran down my spine. I felt the old Rorik fading, stripped away like a shed skin. He no longer represented me. I was changing into something new and different; it both excited and scared me.

“I have no excuse,” I said, staring at the tile floor.

“I don’t want an excuse,” Thystle spat. “Just tell us why.”

A heavy sigh escaped me. It felt so easy telling Saffron the truth—in hindsight, everything felt easy with him—but repeating the same words to his furious brothers made me nervous. Not because I was afraid of their physical retaliation, but because I couldn’t stand to see them any more disappointed in me.

I remembered Cobalt’s kindness when he offered me his clothes, and I remembered Jade’s easy understanding when I admitted to nearly bashing Kaskian’s face in. They didn’t judge me, or belittle me as a weak, useless omega. Not like the alphas in the tundra clan.

My words came out hoarse and thin. “I was sent here on orders to kill dragons. My clan alphas told me not to come home if I failed.”

Shock rippled across their faces. Their collective anger fizzled into confusion.

Cobalt was the first to speak. “Where is your clan?”

The question was measured, as if he already knew the answer.

“In the tundra, up north,” I replied.

Cobalt stilled. His gaze darted to Jade, whose cognizant eyes sharpened.

But Thystle was oblivious to whatever hidden knowledge his older brothers shared. He continued railing at me. “So what? Are you a loser who does everything commanded of you?”

“Yes,” I said honestly. “I was.”

That answer took Thystle off guard. He crossed his arms, frowning. “Hmph. At least you admit it…”

“You spoke in past tense, Rorik,” Jade pointed out. “Do you feel differently now?”

I nodded. “I do.”

Crimson scoffed. “Please. Don’t tell me you believe this radical change of heart, Jade? It’s obviously a ploy so we don’t tear him apart.”

I interrupted them. “If killing me would fix this, I would offer my life in a heartbeat.”

Crimson’s brows rose. He looked surprised, too. He clicked his tongue, sliding his hands into his suit pockets. “If Viol were here, I’m sure this conversation would’ve been a bloodbath instead,” he muttered. “But he’s off gallivanting around as usual.”

It seemed like my honest answer had redirected Crimson’s vitriol onto someone else—in this case, their absent brother, Viol.

“Putting the dragon killing aside,” Jade said, facing me, “how do you feel about Saffron?”

My heart squeezed at the mention of his name, but before I could reply, Thystle interrupted. “Who cares? He nearly killed Aurum!”

“I didn’t know it was him,” I said, my throat tightening. “I… I didn’t believe Saffron when he said he was a dragon. Not him, or anyone else. I thought you were too kind to be dragons.”

Thystle’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“I know dragons only as cold-blooded killers.” My voice turned thick. “Many years ago, a dragon destroyed my home and killed many of my clan mates. Since that day, I trained every waking moment to become a dragon-killer. To avenge my clan.”

Jade observed me for a long beat. He pushed up his glasses, then asked, “Was this a choice you made, or one imposed upon you?”

I hesitated. It was frightening how he discerned the truth so easily. “It… was imposed on me. My alpha superiors controlled my every action. I had no choice.”

This information defused some of the dragon brothers’ anger. The tension in the room changed from a sharp blade to a dull knife.

“But you still did it,” Thystle muttered. “You had the choice not to attack Aurum, but you still did it.”

I nodded listlessly. “You’re right. And for that, I accept any punishment.”

Crimson rolled his eyes, but the fight had left him. “Ugh, enough with the self-deprecating melodrama. Are you in love with Saffron or not?”

My mouth went dry, and my pulse kicked into overdrive. I had never been in love with anyone before, but now…

“Yes,” I murmured. “I think I am.”

Crimson cocked an eyebrow. “You think you are?”

Jade raised a palm. “Calm down, Crimson. Rorik was raised in a high-control environment. He’s discovering his true feelings for the first time.” He turned to me. “Would you like to see Aurum and Saffron?”

My heartbeat stumbled. I was terrified, but it had to be done.

“Yes. Please,” I begged.

“I think you’re giving the bear too much credit,” Thystle mumbled, drumming black-painted nails on his arm. “What if he’s lying, and he’s only going there to finish what he started?”

Jade smiled. “If that’s the case, then I trust Saffron’s judgment.”

I shuddered at his sinister tone. His implication was clear: if I was a genuine danger to Aurum, Saffron would be the one to end me.